Ear-protector



(No Model.) A. HNSON,

EAR PROTECTOR.

No. 537,686. Patented Apr. 16, 1895.

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PATENT ARTHUR 'W. JOHNSON, NEWVARK, NEW JERSEY.

EAR-PROTECTO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 537,686, dated April 16,1895.

Application filed December 8, 1894;. Serial No. 531 ,192- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR W. JOHNSON, a

V citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State ofNew Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ear-Protectors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to protectors for the human ear and is more especially designed for use by foot ball players and persons engaging in similar games or sport where rough usage is liable to mutilate or otherwise injure that member.

The object of my invention is to provide an ear protector which practically and efliciently shields the ear and can be used with comfort to the wearer.

The invention consists not so much in the manner of fastening the device to the head of the wearer as in the construction of the muffs or covers proper, as hereinafter described and finally pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, Figure 1 is a plan View of my invention; Fig. 2, a view in cross-section of one of the individual muffs or covers; Fig. 3, thecomplete device applied to the head of the wearer, and Fig. 4 a view in elevation.

In the said drawings A represents the individual ear-covers formed to receive and virtually incase the ear. These are made of fiexible rubber and of concavo-convex form, relatively thick in the central body portion and tapering to a diminished size toward the basal edge which may be a marginal rib e as shown. The rubber, or component material of which the said cover A is made is also, in addition tobeing relatively thick at the central body portion, of a harder or firmer temper at that partand is graduated to a softer and more flexible temper toward the basal edge or margin. The said cover is provided with one or more perforations or openings therein as y, for the purpose of Ventilation and in order that the hearing may not be obstructed. The form and number of such perforations are not important. If preferred a series of small round perforations may be employed. The cover may also be made to conform approximately to the contour of the earthat is to say, the pocket therein may be adapted to fit more snugly around the ear instead of being of concavo-convex form. 'Holding bands or straps Z5, 0, d and f are secured to the said covers Afor the purpose of attaching the protector to the head of the wearer. The head is embraced circumferentially by straps h and c, and the strap (1 connects 'b and c and spans the top of the head. A strap f may extend from the covers A and in turn may be secured to a chin cover D, which may be of leather, chamois or other suitable material and, if desired, perforated. be elastic and adjustable by means of an ordinary buckle.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An ear protector comprising muffs or covers A, elastic, perforated, relatively thick and hard at the central body portion, and tapering to a thinner and softer basal edge in combination with suitable holding straps or bands secured thereto, substantially as and for the Witnesses:

DANL. L. TOWER, CHAS. A. WATSON.

These straps or bands may 

